Alabama Preseason No. 1 by USA TodayCrimson Tide is the preseason No. 1 for the second time in four years

Aug. 1, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - USA Today Sports announced its annual preseason college football coaches poll on Thursday and tabbed Alabama as the preseason No. 1 for the second time in four years.

The two-time defending national champion Crimson Tide return seven starters on the defensive side of the football and six on offense. Alabama has won three of the last four national championships and boast a 61-7 record over the past five seasons under the direction of head coach Nick Saban.

Alabama also owns the longest active streak of appearances in the USA Today Coaches Poll at 81 straight polls, including the last 33 polls in the top five. The Tide were also preseason No. 1 entering the 2010 season when they finished with a 10-3 record and a No. 11 final ranking in the coaches poll.

Ohio State is No. 2 in the preseason coaches' poll with Oregon third, Stanford fourth and Georgia fifth. The Southeastern Conference boasts six teams in the USA Today Preseason Top 25, all being ranked inside the top 13.

The Crimson Tide's margin of 118 poll points on the second-ranked Buckeyes is the largest preseason lead for a No. 1 since 2005.

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